Tony, Tatiana now in Luxor for more ancient sites! This trip around Egypt has been interesting and fun, challenging and ever changing! Unable to discover or work out how to purchase train tickets to travel from Cairo to Luxor on, either the day train or overnight sleeper, we decided to travel the 7/8 hour journey by bus to Hurghada on Egypt’s Red Sea east coast. We departed Cairo around 7 pm, after going to a different bus terminal than the ‘Go Bus’ use. Nevertheless, some 8 bumpy hours later, with the time approaching 4 am, we arrived in the touristy beach town with its international airport. Once at the Sea Wave Hostel, we crashed. The following morning, I enjoyed fried eggs and bread with a cup of tea on the roothtop deck, whilst Tatiana relaxed in bed. Later we headed to the nearby beach, a 5/10 minute walk, first along a dusty and soft dirt track/road before turning right and descending a slight gradient trail containing several small rocks. At the first real road, we met a local gentleman who helped us cross the busy junction and took us onto the beach after a brief walk. Once on the sand, we were, naturally, guided to a beach café/bar and took seats. Tatiana enjoyed a coffee whilst I went and put my feet in the Red Sea! Wonderfully refreshing! The friendly locals looked after us, escorting us off the beach when we wished to depart. Once helped back across the wide road, we began searching for the upwards trail back to the hostel. After a few minutes walking, we met a lady with a car who turned out to originate from Slovenia, she offered us a ride and, even though it probably took longer than walking, we accepted, gratefully. Back at the hostel, we grabbed our bags, requested a taxi and 10 minutes later, were at the Hurghada bus station ready to depart for Luxor. However, there was one snag, the bus for Luxor didn’t leave for another 2.5 hours. Luckily there was a café nearby, so we quenched our fursts! Needless to say, we eventually made it to Luxor and, are, at this moment, quietly relaxing in the delightful New Everest hostel. Thanks for following. Don’t forget to check out my fun and fascinating travel Ebooks: Seeing The World My Way Seeing The Americas My Way Available to buy and download from all Ebook websites. Have a good one, Tony 😊
— Tony Giles blind solo traveller, author of Ebooks:
*Seeing The Americas My Way* An emotional journey (2016) Available from Amazon – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M14JY50 Kobo – store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/seeing-the-americas-my-way
*Seeing The World My Way* A totally blind and partially deaf guy’s global adventures (2010)
Second edition is available from all Ebook sites.
Website: www.tonythetraveller.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/theblindbackpacker YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/TonyGilesTraveller

Dear all travellers and followers, please find a bunch of recent links of my documentaries, articles, interviews and where to buy and download my travel Ebooks. I hope the links work, for you all to watch, plus links to my Ebooks. Enjoy, thanks, Tony :)
www.youtube.com/user/tonythetraveller


‘Hole in the Rock’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8h55_t_CGY Zorbing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5INd8xcWTf8
Songhoy Blues and organiser Toumani Diabat Amazon – http://amzn.eu/5Pw5lV4 Apple – itunes.apple.com/gb/book/seeing-the-world-my-way/id1189073353?mt=11 Google – play.google.com/store/books/details/Tony_Giles_Seeing_The_World_My_Way?id=-NPFDQAAQBAJ&hl=en Nook (Barnes and Noble) – www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seeing-the-world-my-way-tony-giles/1125376700?ean=9781912022861 Both Ebook titles are available on iBooks: Seeing the World My Way – geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/book/seeing-the-world-my-way/id1189073353?mt=11 Seeing the Americas My Way – geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/book/seeing-the-americas-my-way/id1155800966?mt=11
www.bbc.com/news/av/disability-42198169/completely-blind-backpacker-s-plan-to-travel-the-world

For a deeper version of my documentary of a blind man wandering in Jerusalem, Go to the BBC World Travel Show page or this link: https://www.facebook.com/bbctravelshow/videos/10155977717163179/ Here is the iPlayer link. You can select whether to watch with or without audio description – www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09j2vhb/the-travel-show-world-disability-day-special There’s a selection in the bottom right hand corner which says ‘Watch with AD’
Please don’t share on social media, only with frinds and family. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05tyfcx Seeing the World My Way – geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/book/seeing-the-world-my-way/id1189073353?mt=11 Seeing the Americas My Way – geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/book/seeing-the-americas-my-way/id1155800966?mt=11 They are available on: Ibooks, Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google, Hoopla, Kobo, Nook
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09jl4k0 Scoot Air vid https://www.facebook.com/flyscoot/videos/1810540489005471/
Three videos of Tony zorbing in New Zealand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5INd8xcWTf8&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Akdmu96FfQ&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apM9qLs4Qas&feature=youtu.be
Transporter Bridge, Middlesbrough bungee jump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSJ852gxCU
Bungy Singapore ajhackett.shredvideo.com/f/mv8wd7ls0e London Doc with Tony https://www.youtube.com/watch? Tony on the ‘Big Story’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBDMn7hE2YM
— Tony Giles blind solo traveller, author of Ebooks:
*Seeing The Americas My Way* An emotional journey (2016) Available from Amazon – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M14JY50 Kobo – store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/seeing-the-americas-my-way
*Seeing The World My Way* A totally blind and partially deaf guy’s global adventures (2010)
Second edition is available from all Ebook sites.
Website: www.tonythetraveller.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/theblindbackpacker YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/TonyGilesTraveller

Tatiana and I have just spent a delightful week in Austria. First in Vienna where we attended the TEDx Vienna conference on Simplexity, where I gave a splendid talk on travelling blind. Tatiana came for the food! Then we headed to Graz, Austria’s second largest city in terms of population. Personally, I found it rather quiet. The 15th century cathedral was interesting and we listened to the choonful glockenspiel, chine its 24 bells three times daily. Finally, we moved on to Salzburg with its plethora of churches and variety of architecture. MY mission, to find Mozart’s balls for Tatiana! No, not his actual balls, but the chocolate variety! These are round balls made of marzipan and covered in chocolate and, apparently, delicious! I don’t eally know. Because we met up with a friend from facebook and were given a tray of the prised chocolates, Tatiana ate them all before I had a chance to sample any! Although, to be fair, she did ask me before hand! I’m now back in England relaxing before the next trip. Thanks for following, Tony :)

I’ve been in Palermo, capital of Sicily, the large island off the boot of Italy for 6 days now, waiting for a ferry to Tunisia! I was supposed to leave on Saturday, but missed the boat, getting lost whilst attempting to find a bus stop on a quiet street in the centre and struggling because of not possessing any Italian! Therefor I’ve spent the last two days moving from one small hostel on Via Lincoln to a large property on the other side of the city on Via Dante! This involved finding yet more bus stops then walking in the vague direction of the accommodation in humid weather with a heavy pack on my back. I had to cross several roads during my trip, with little help from the Italian shouting locals. Although, one kind Sicilian couple did help me find the building in question. I’m now ensconced on a couch inside Casa Amici Hostel, typing this latest blog! A nice big hostel on a first floor with comfy furniture and a balcony, where the included breakfast is surved daily. Palermo is a noisy, lively city with constant honking horns, busy traffic, smelly streets and obstacle cluttered pavements, often filled with fast-walking locals rushing to who knows where and pushing and shubbing their way on and off buses and in and out of doorways. The smelles of the streets largely eninate from the heat and blockages of the suers, mingled with the cooking of greasy kebabs, chips/fries, onions and an assortment of spices and herbs! The large sprawling city offers a plethora of historical churches covered in gold outside and paintings and frescos inside, but I avoided most of these as they all seem to lack audio guides. The one exception being the 12th century Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel), royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily with its famous mosaics It’s situated on the first floor of the large Palazzo dei Normanni (Norman Palace/Royal Palace). At present, the palace buildings appear to be only open to the public on weekends, but the chapel , gardens and grounds seem open daily. The building is, apparently, the oldest royal residence in Europe. A touch-screen audio guide is available in several European languages for a fee. However, this device is not user-friendly for blind/visually impaired people, because sight is required to operate the buttons to select and play each commentary! Fortunately, my girlfriend, Tatiana and I were accompanied by one of the palace’s staff members, who kindly started each commentary for us when required. Unfortunately, being severely deaf and using hearing aids, I found the English commentary difficult to hear and understand, especially as it played classical music in the background! For sighted visitors the chapel would be fascinating and spectacular, especially the mosaics. Palermo also has many squares, some of them quite interesting and atmospheric: Piazza Indipendendza near the Norman Palace, Piazza Pretoria with its Fountana Vergogna (Fountain of shame), named because the many naked statues on the monumental fountain appeared to represent the political and social corruption of many cities of 16th-17th century Sicily! Another lively area, full of cafes, bars, restaurants, shops is the Quattro Canti, officially known as Piazza Vigliena, a Baroque square at the meeting point of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, Palermo’s two main avenues. The 17th century octagonal square is situated at the symbolic crossroads at the old city. 4 sides contain streetswith busy traffic, the other 4 sides are Baroque buildings, their near-identical facades contain fountains with statues of the 4 seasons, the 4 Spanish kings of Sicily, and of the patronesses of Palermo: Christina, Ninfa, Olivia and Agata. Nearby is the small La Martorana church with byzantine mosaics. I learnt about the scenery of the buildings in the piazza after meeting an Italian couple near one of the corners of the piazza. Luckily, the fountains were on and Tatiana and I were able to appreciate and enjoy the gentle flow of water emanating from one of these architectural bowls. The Palermo Cathedral (Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Virgin Mary), located in this central area, is also worth visiting. The large, 12th-18th century, multi-architectural stile church is free to enter. But, the crypt, royal tombs, terraces and treasury require a ticket. There are many more fascinating sites to visit in this thriving city, several f them of UNESCO Heritage status, but after two days trawling around the long streets and cobblestone squares in the heat and humidity of a late September summer I’d had enough and headed for the cooler domains of the hostels and cafes. I’ve spent my last two evenings eating kebabs and drinking coke or water, having brief conversations with other travellers in my accommodation and generally relaxed as I wait for the ferry to take me to Tunisia, country 132. After nearly a month in Sicily with its more friendly and helpful locals, more friendly than people in mainland Italy, to me at least, I’m looking forward to the next adventure and a different culture. Sicily’s highlights are the atmospheres in Palermo and Catania, Ortygia Island off Syracusa, and Ragusa with its historical charm and many steps to and from Ibla, its historical heart. Discovering the snack food arancini, croquette filled rice, cheese, tomato appitisers was wonderful and fulfilling. Whilst trying granini, a creamy almond-based sweet was less delightful, but worth trying. I also liked Cannoli, tubular pastries or biskits filled with sweet ricotta cheese. Sicily’s seafood pasta dishes are largely outstanding and relatively inexpensive. The swordfish cuisine is particuarly delicious. Sicily has so much to offer the traveller; great and tasty food at reasonable prices, plenty of historical Greeko-Roman ruins such as the Valley of The Temples near Agrigento and the buildings and ruins in Syracuse on the east coast, plus architecture from a variety of styles and periods. There are also sandy beaches and peaceful islands to escape the chaos of the larger cities like Palermo, Trapani, Messina. So there’s something for everyone. Ok, time to go, Tunis is next. I have to go and try and sell more Ebooks! Seeing the World My Way, republished, 2017 Seeing The Americas My Way, 2016 Available to download from all Ebook sites – a kindle device is not necessarily required. I’m editing my third travel Ebook as I finish this blog. Happy travels, Tony 😊

— Tony Giles blind solo traveller, author of Ebooks:
*Seeing The Americas My Way* An emotional journey (2016) Available from Amazon – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M14JY50 Kobo – store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/seeing-the-americas-my-way
*Seeing The World My Way* A totally blind and partially deaf guy’s global adventures (2010)
Second edition is available from all Ebook sites.
Website: www.tonythetraveller.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/theblindbackpacker YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/TonyGilesTraveller

Hi all followers. I hope everyone is well. I’m now in Singapore, country 115 on the UN list and 130 on my own list of countries. I have some good news. Both my Ebooks are once again available to download on both Amazon sites. This is excellent. I hope everyone who buy’s one of my Ebooks enjoys them and gets a smile if nothing else. Many thanks for following and supporting. I’ll have another video documentary to share soon. Warmest regards, Tony :).